928 



Peru. Though apparently less popular than the Oca and Ul- 

 lucu, the Anyu has one important advantage over all the 

 Peruvian root-crops, Including the potato, In Its keeping 

 qualities Specimens collected in the district of Sicuani 

 on April 9th were kept for three months at Ollantaytambo, 

 and then brought back to Washington, and were still in good 

 condition the middle of September. This means that the 

 Anyu tubers would be very easy to handle commercially 

 in case they should prove to be of use in the United States. 

 In Peru they are eaten like potatoes, papa lisas, and ocas, 

 chiefly in the form of soups. The Anyu plant is a rather 

 close relative of another Peruvian species, Tropaeolum 

 majus , a familiar ornamental cultivated in the United 

 States under the name Nasturtium. Hybrids between these 

 two species might be of interest as affording a possibility 

 of securing ornamental varieties that could be propagated 

 from tubers. The flowers of T. tuberosum are not so large 

 as those of T. ma jus and do not open so widely, but in 

 other respects the general appearance is much the same. 

 Experimental plantings of jLnyus should be made in the ele- 

 vated districts of the southwestern states, and along the 

 Pacific Coast. In comparison with potatoes there appear 

 to be very few varieties of Anyus." (Cook.} 



Ullucus tuberosus Caldas. (Basellaceae . ) 41177-84, 

 41194, 41196. Tubers of 9 varieties of Ullucu from Peru 

 and Boliyia. Presented by Mr. 0. F. Cook. "The Ullucu or 

 Papa lisa is a root-crop, raised generally in the highlands 

 of Peru and Bolivia, in the regions where potatoes are 

 grown. The tubers have a remarkably close resemblance to 

 potatoes, except that the skins are smoother and the colors 

 brighter, running from white through various intermediate 

 shades to deep yellows and reds. There are also spotted 

 varieties, white and pink or light yellow and pink. Judg- 

 ing from its representive in the native markets, the papa 

 lisa ranks next to the potato in popular favor in Peru, "'oe- 

 ing used largely in the making of soups, which is the prin- 

 cipal branch of the culinary art among the Indians. The 

 flavor of the papa lisa is peculiar, and usually not at- 

 tractive to the unaccustomed palate. But being one of the 

 plants that accompany the potato in Peru, it may not be 

 without interest to observe its' behavior in the United 

 States. The tubers are produced in abundance and if the 

 plant should be found to grow readily the possibilities of 

 utilization should be carefully studied. The plant is a 

 relative of the so-called Madeira vine, familiar in culti- 

 vation as an ornamental climber. A wild Ullucu, common in 

 the region of Sicuani, is very similar to the Madeira vine 

 but the plants of the cultivated varieties do not attain 

 a length of more than two or three feet. The general ap- 

 pearance and habit of growth are also somewhat like those 

 of the sweet potato." (Cook.} 



